Concrete mixer



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,699,230

c, M. EBERLING CONCRETE MIXER In L( am' Jan. 15, 1929.

C. M. EBERLING CONCRETE MIXER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1927 fn UEnZar' :iff

Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

i CHARLES M. EBEBLING, OF" CLEVELAND, OHIO.`

CONCRETE MIXER.`

Application led April 23, 1927. Serial Nvo. 186,187.

plified discharging arrangements;` the provision of a batch type mixer having measuring devices of maximum simplicity for the purpose of gauging the amount-s of the different solid ingredients; the provision of a mixer having improved and simplified provisions for filling and emptying-the provision of a concrete mixer of such simplicity as to insure the production of satisfactory concret-e with the most ignorant or inattentive laborers; the provision of a device of this character having anew and improved arrangementand relation of mixing knives; the provision of a 4concrete mixer having improved and sim lified structural features; while further ob]ects and advantages ofthe invention willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown a sim le physical form in which my inventive ic eas are embodied, although it will be understood that these drawings are intended to be merely illustrative of the principles of my invention and not ofall practical means of embodying the same. Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of my improved mixer; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, and F ig. i a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the plate securing means.

For the frame of my machine I have shown a pair of cast-iron uprights 1 1 connected by longitudinal bars 22 and by the semi` cylindrical bottom 3 of the mixing trough or receptacle a seat 4 for this trough beingcarried by each of the uprights. Also carried by each of the uprights is a journal box 5 in which is mounted a horizontal shaft 6 provided at one end with an operating gear 7 which meshes with a driving pinion (not shown) carried by the counter shaft 8 and driven by the pulley 9 loosely journaled on saidcountershaft and 'adapted -to be secured operatively thereto by means of the clutch 10. The trough 3 terminates at one side not far from the level of the shaft as indicated at 8in Fig. 3, but thecorresponding portion 12 of said troughon the opposite` side of the shaft,instead ofterminating it is extended upwardly and outwardl as illustrated at 13 to form the bottom o a slanting hopper. The two end walls of the mixer are defined by upright metal plates 14 which are suitably joined to the bottom plate 13 along their meeting line, andalso to the curved portion ofthe trouffh 3, and the plates 13 and 14 are preferabbly terminated at the same height as indicated at 15in Fig. 1. To the opposite side of the machine I provide a vertically movable gate 1,6S1idably mounted inangle iron guideways 17 carried` by the end walls 14. Also carried by these walls are a pairof brackets `18``.18 in which is journaled a shaft 19 connected by loose chains 20-20 "with the `lower 0r-` tion of the gate 16, one end of thes aft being provided with acrank 20 by which the chain can be wound on the shaft so `as to raise the gate. y Interposed between the hopper portion and the mixing trough on the side opposite said gate 16 is a second vertically shdable gate 21 movably supported by means of angle-iron guides 22 and likewise connected by chains23 toa shaft 24 journaled across the top of the machine and provided at one end with a crank 25.

The gate 21 is approximately upright although it preferably overhangs the mixing trough as far as may be without nterferin with the rotation of the mixing knives, an the bottom of the hopper is preferably formed at a greater angle than the angleof repose of granular material. This ate 21. serves with the ends 14""and slanting ttom 13 to define a kind of upwardly flaring trough which is divided into bins by movable upright partitions" 264-26 of triangular shape. Securedto the end plates l4`and traversing this trough or hopper from end to end is a `horizontal rigid rod 27 which holds said partitions against being removed or falling into the mixer, while permitting their ready adjustmentlengthwise to define different proportions. Preferably each arttion is provided on one side with a:

in place. The size of the entire hopper is so chosen that its contents shall make one batch for the mixer, and the proportions of `2S having a set screw 29therein by means the different ingredients are determined by the location of the partitions lengthwise of that hopper, after which it is merely necessary for the attendant to lill them levelful with the proper materials, during the time that the previous batch is being worked over in the mixing trough.

Carried by the shaft 6 are a plurality of blades or knives adapted and arranged not` only to stir and mix the ingredients but also to eject the same upon raising the gate 16. According tothe preferred form of my invention I employ four of such blades or knives. each having the shape of a segment of a helix, each; subtending between 90 and lOdegrees.` Two of these blades 3G are located close to the wall of the trough, one adjacent to each end thereof and of opposite inclination but overlapping at their inner ends; the other two blades 37, 5S are spaced further from the wall of the trough, preferably so as to displace on each revolution approximately one-half of the charge which said trough contains. These latter blades are likewise located, one-'adjacent to each end of the trough, and the inclination of each is opposite to that of the corresponding larger blade and also opposite to that ofthe other smaller blade. The small blades also preferably overlap each other longitit dinally al short distance, and the blades are rigidly aflixed to suitable arms 4l() carried by the shaft 6. The bottom of the trough preferably reinforced by a plurality of heavy rectangular metal bars al, laid closely thereinto constitute a lining for the plate The operation of the device is as follows: A charge of the different materials as measured in the different bins is introduced into the trough by rotating the handle 25 in either` direction so as to raise the door 21, the shaft and its blades being rotated inV a direction to receive the material, that is in a clock-wise direction as observed in Figs. land 3; The edect of each of the outer blades, 35, 36 after sweeping the charge into the trough isto transfer the same from one end ofthe trough to the other, but-at each turn about half of the material is caught by one of the inner blades 3?. 38 and thrown over the shaft in the opposite longitudinal direction. Thus each time before one of the outer blades can produce a transfer of material lengthwise of the trough in one direction, the companion inner blade has removed onehalf the material out of its path and dropped it behind the outer blade in a position to meet the next moiety of material delivered bythe other outer blade. This causes the material to be constantly quartered and mixed with alternate quarters, while at the same time both sides of knives are tending to move the entire mass towards the outlet gate 16. The inclination of the outer blades is such that rotation of the shaft preferably provide no means for holding the gates open since in this way a workman can not conveniently open more than one at a time.

It will be understood that while it is de` sirable for the best operation of some features of my improved mixer that the blades be of such a nature as to exert a widely distributed sidewise lifting action upon the charge, that this effect can be secured with other detail shapes and constructions of blades than those herein shown; it will also be understood that the hopper and bin idea herein described can be utilized otherwise than as specifically illustrated, and is not restricted to use with mixing blades of this type or even with this kind of batch mixer; also that the mixing blades herein described can be used with other forms of charging and discharging means; and in general that agreat many changes can be made in details of the machine, so that I do not limit myself in any wise except as recited in my several claims which I desire may be construed, each independently of limitations contained in other; claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. In a concrete mixer the combination with a mixing receptacle of the batch type of a hopper supported in a position to discharge into said receptacle, said hopper having an open top, a movable gate between said hopper and receptacle and one or more partitions traversing said hopper and defining a plurality of bins therein, all of said bins being closed by said gate.

2. In a concrete mixer the combination with a mixing receptacle of the batch type of ap hopper supported in a position to dis charge into said receptacle, said hopper having an open top, a movable gate between said hopper and receptacle and one or more partitions traversing said hopper and defining a plurality of bins therein, all of said bins being closed by said gate and the capacity of said hopper constituting one charge for said receptacle.

3. In a concrete mixer the combination with a mixing receptacle of the batch type, of an open topped hopper having a capacity equal to one charge or said receptacle andA supported in a position to discharge into said receptacle, one or more movable upright partitions in said hopper terminating substantially at the top thereof, means for securing said partitions at different positions in said hopper to define bins of different size, and a movable gate interposed between said hopper and receptacle and closing all said bins.

4f. In a concrete mixer, the combination with a mixing receptacle of the batch type of an open topped hopper having a slanting bottom forming one Wall and a sliding gate forming the opposite wall, said gate being located between said hopper and receptacle, and one or more upright partitions traversing said hopper crosswise to said gate and terminating at said gate and defining bins.

5. In a concrete mixer, the combination with a mixing receptacle of the batch type of an open topped hopper having aslanting bottom forming one Wall and a sliding gate forming the opposite Wall, said gate being located between said hopper and receptacle, an upright partition traversing said hopper crossw'ise to said gate, and means for securing said partition at any one of a plurality of positions along said hopper to define bins of desired size-relation.

6. In a concrete mixer, an open topped casing having a slanting bottom and vertical ends, a substantially upright gate slidably mounted between said ends and` defining with said ends and slanting bottom a troughshaped hopper, crank means for raising and lowering said gates, mixing apparatus on the downhill side of said gate, and a plurality of transverse partitions in said hopper defining bins, said gate constituting one side of each bin.

7. Concrete apparatus comprising the combination with a batch mixer of a batch hopper having therein oneor more adjust-` able partitions delining bins of adjustable relative size, and means for dumping the entire contents of all said bins simultaneously into the mixer.

8. The combination With a batch mixer for concrete of an open topped hopper of a size to receive one batch of dry ingredients, one or more movable upright partitions therein defining bins of adjustable relative size, and means for dumping the entire contents of said hopper into said mixer.

9. A batch mixer for concrete comprising a horizontal trough having closed ends, a horizontal shaft therein, said trough having a movable gate at one side, and blades carried by said shaft, said blades having such inclination lengthwise as to lift the materials at least as high as said gate during the revolution of said shaft.

10. A batch mixer for concrete comprising a horizontal trough havin closed ends, a horizontal shaft therein, sai trou h having a movable gate at one side, anV blades carried by said shaft, each blade constituting the segment of a helix and different blades havin different direction of inclination, Where y the mixture is transferred from end to end of said trough while said gate is closed and is ejected sideways from said trough when said gate is opened.

11. In a concrete mixen a horizontal trough having vertical endsand an upright movable gate at each side, a charging hopper outside of one gate, a horizontal shaft in said trough, and blades having the shape of helical segments carried by said shaft and having such inclination as to eject the mixture through the other gate when the same is opened. y

12. A batch mixer for concrete having a stationary horizontal trough, a rotatable horizontal shaft therein, spiral blades carried by said shaft, a discharge `outlet at one sideof the trough, and a movable gate for said outlet. y

13. A batch mixer for concrete having a stationary horizontal trough, a rotatable horizontal shaft therein, spiral bladescarried b said shaft, a charging inlet at one side o said trou h, a discharge outlet at the other side of said trough, and movable gates for said inlet and outlet.

14. A batch mixer for concrete having a stationary horizontal trough, a rotatable horizontal shaft therein, spiral blades carried b said shaft, a charging inlet at one side o said trough, a discharge outlet at the other side of said trough, movable gates for said inlet and outlet, anda charging `hopper located adjacent to said inlet` and having the inlet gate as one side thereof.

15. A batch mixer for concrete havin a stationary horizontal trough, a rotata le horizontal shaft therein, spiral blades carried b said shaft, a charging inlet at one side o said trough, a movable gate for said inlet, and a chargin hopper located adjacent to said inlet an havmg the inlet gate for one side thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES M. EBERLING. 

